A federal judge yesterday ruled the former Jersey City deputy mayor’s poor health should not keep her from reporting to prison. Instead, U.S. District Judge Jose Linares ordered the former politician, who was convicted as part of the largest federal undercover sting operation in New Jersey history, to surrender April 3 to begin her three-year sentence.

Beldini, 76, was one of more than 40 people arrested July 23, 2009, as part of the FBI’s sweeping money-laundering and corruption sting. Ultimately, 46 were charged. The deputy mayor, a former burlesque dancer, was accused of accepting campaign contributions from federal informant Solomon Dwek in exchange for assisting him with his supposed real estate deals.

Beldini was the first of the sting’s defendants to go to trial.

In February 2010, she was convicted of two counts of bribery for accepting two $10,000 contributions. Her trial relied on hidden video recordings and the testimony of Dwek himself. At her sentencing four months later, Beldini was ordered to surrender to Carswell prison in Fort Worth, Texas.

But she remained free on bail, set in 2009 at $100,000, when Linares ruled the legal issues surrounding her trial were significant enough to warrant her continued freedom.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Beldini’s original conviction last September, and federal prosecutors filed a motion in October to revoke her bail.

Peter Willis, Beldini’s attorney, then filed a motion requesting the court to stay her sentence for health reasons. In his motion, Willis pointed out Beldini takes four daily medications that may not be available in prison. He also said she suffers from serious maladies — including an abnormal heart rhythm that could require a pacemaker in the near future.

Willis asked the court to "stay the execution of Ms. Beldini’s sentence for an indeterminate period of time."

In his ruling, Linares notes that "in light of defendant’s advanced age and medical condition" the court requested and "extensively reviewed" her medical records as well as the federal bureau of prisons administrator’s letter following the bureau’s review of those records. Linares’ ruling details the care the prison system would be able to provide, including its ability to attend to inmates with cardiovascular issues and "to provide any necessary pacemaker intervention."

"The court is satisfied that the defendant will adequately receive appropriate and timely medical care," Linares concluded.

However, Linares did delay Beldini’s surrender until April in order to allow her "time to explore any additional medical care or treatment (she) may need prior to the commencement of her sentence."

Willis said he plans to file additional motions before the April 3 surrender date.